Clip forming and applying machine



Nov. 11, 1952 A. LENART ET AL 2,617,098

CLIP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 1IN VEN TOR5 Nov. 11, 1952 A. LENART ETAL- 2,617,098

CLIP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed April l7 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 77/ 4 V a Y JN ENToIw,

Nov. 11, 1952 A. LENART ET AL 2,617,098

CLIP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 35/ ill W //5/a 7a 77 L M j WM H 00 77 ze 75 2/1 @75 w INVENTORS,

if @Mzw NOV. 11, 1952 N T ETAL 2,617,098

CLIP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 17,-1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 4&.

Nov. 11, 1952 A. LENART ET AL 2,617,098

cup FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1950 I s Sheets-Sheet sNov. 11, 1952 A. LENART EI'AL 2,617,098

CLIP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1950 sweets-Sheet e@ME Z War/7.9a

Nov. 11, 1952 A. LENART ETAL 2,617,098

CLIP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 17,- 1950 s sheei's sheet7 INVENTOR5. /7 7 //0/2y far/Zara //?///??a/7 NOV. 11, 1952 A LENARTETAL 2,617,098

CLIP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1350 8 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTORS.

45(74/ /5/"fld/'0 /76///770/7 Patented Nov. 11, 1952 2,617,098 CLIPFORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Anthony Lenart and Bernard Heilman,Detroit, Mich., assignors to L. A. Young Spring & Wire Corporation,Detroit, Mich.

Application April 17, 1950, Serial No. 156,444

17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clip forming and applyingmachine. The improvements set forth and claimed in this applicationconstitute improvements of the machine described and claimed in ourcopending application for Clip Forming and Applying Machine, Serial No.732,524 filed March 5, 1947.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved form of machine for severing wire stockinto short blanks and forming the blanks into clips which arethenapplied to a work piece by closing the clips around adjacentelements of the work piece.

Second, to provide a clip forming and applying machine which is operatedby compressed air and in which the energy for closing the clips isdirectly supplied by compressed air whereby the final closing force onthe clips may be adjusted to any desired value.

Third, to provide pneumatic operating mechanism including workperforming cylinders and control valves for automatically advancing andretracting the forming and closing jaws of a clip forming and applyingmachine and for moving the closing jaws to clip applying position.

Fourth, to provide a clip forming and applying machine in which theclosing pressure of the clip applying jaws is as strong or stronger atthe end of the closing motion of the jaws than it is at the beginning ofthe closing motion of the jaws.

Fifth, to provide a clip forming and applying machine which is easilymaneuverable and oper-' able over a work piece and in which the operatoris required to merely guide and control the operation of the machine bymeans of .a trigger.

Other objects and advantages relating todetails of our machine will beapparent from "a consideration of the following description and claimsand the attached drawings, of which there are eight sheets.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the machine operatively mountedover a work support for joining elements of the work piece.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clip forming andapplyingmechanism operatively associated with a work piece.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine away in vertical Fig. 6is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken along the planeof the line B6 in Fig. 5 and looking downwardly in the direction of thearrows to the stock feeding elements of the machine.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the stockfeeding cam shown in Fig. 5 and illustrate the range of movement of thefeeding mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse vertical cross sectional view throughthe forming and applying mechanism taken along the plane of the line 88in Figs. 3, 9 and 10. I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 9 9 in Fig. 8 and looking downwardly in the directionof the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the clip forming jawstaken along the plane of the line Iii-l0 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line ll-ll in Figs-8 and 9 and looking in the oppositedirection from the view in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary verticalcross sectional view taken along theplane of the broken line l2-I2 in Figs. 9 and 13 and showing the clipapplying jaws in closed position.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary bottom'view of'the clip applying jaws. y 1

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view similar to Fig.10 but illustrating the forming jaws in closed position.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view similar to Fig.9 but illustratingjthe forming and closing jaws in closed position;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line l6--I6 in Figs. 8 and 15 and illustrating the actionof the blank severing jaws. I

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating theaction of the closing jaws in applying a clip to elements of a workpiece.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing a clip as appliedto the work piece by our machine.

Fig. 19 Ba schematic diagram illustrating the pneumatic controls andoperating mechanism for our machine, the elements of the controls beingillustrated conventionally and in an at {rest position. Fig. 20 is aschematic view'similar to Fig. 19 but illustrating the cont'rolsandmechanism in an actuated retracting position.

Fig. 1 illustrates generally a desirable operating installation of ourmachine in which the forming and applying mechanism l is suspended by acoil spring 2 from a carriage 3 mounted on the rail Q. The rail issupported by a suitable framework over an adjustable work support 5. Thework support 5 is vertically adjustable on the hydraulic pedestal 6 andadapted to support a work piece in the form of a cushion assembly I forconnectionof the elements of the assembly by the machine l. Blank wirestock for the machine 1 is supplied in a continuous manner from thecoil-8 through a flexible guide tube 9, and compressed air for operatingthe machine is supplied through the flexible conduit l5 from asuitablesource.

The forming and applying-mechanism I operates in much the same mannerand contains many of the same parts as the machine disclosed in ourabove mentioned copending application. In general the machine consistsof a vertically disposed body or base plate H having the operatinghandle l2 bolted to the front edge thereof. The upper end of'the'body-is enlarged and has the pneumatic cylinder 13 bolted to thetop thereof. A yoke H swingably supports the body H "from the spring 2and desirably the lower portion of the mechanism is approximatelybalanced on the yoke'M by'the weight .of thepneumatic cylinder.

As is most clearly illustrated .in Figs. 3 and 4, the cylinder l3.contains .a piston l5 having a piston rod l6 extending downwardly into aslot l'l'in the left side of the body l] as viewed from the front orhandle edge of the machine. The lower end of the piston rod 15 issquared to be guided in the slot I! and has a double sided cam l8secured thereto in overlapping relationship with the sides of the slot.Also slidably mounted in the slot I1 is a generally rectangularelongated ram hand as is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8, theram 19 has a transversely extending notch 20 formed therein. The lowerend of the piston rod l6 overlaps-the upper end of the ram l9 and has alaterally projecting finger or flange 2I slidably positioned in thenotch 20 to form a'lost motion connection between-the ram-and the-pistonrod. Thus downward movement of the :piston rod it; will not affect theram 19 until'the flange 2i strikes the bottom of the groove 20.Similarly, upward movement of the piston rod will-not afiect the ramuntil the flange -2l engages the upper side of the groove 28.

The stock feeding and severing .mechanism of the machine is mostclearlyillustrated in Figs. 5 to Sand 16. It will be noted that the left faceof the body II is vertically recessed or grooved adjacent to the grooveHas at 22 (see Fig. 16) to form .aslideway for the shear block '23. Theshear block 23 has an oblique vertical face cooperative with acomplementary face 24-011 the feed block 25 fitted into the rear edge.of the body H. Blankwire stock entering the recessed body through ahole inthefeed block asat 26 is engaged and-shearedofi bythe descendingshear block 23. Movement of the shear block23 is accomplished by meansof a roller 21 riding in a transverse slot 28 in the shear block. Theroller This-carried on the rearforming jaw 29.

Cooperative with the rear forming jaw 29 is a front forming jaw 30,and-the two are pivotally connected by a pin 3! and vertically guided bya roller 32 on the pin movable ina slot 33 in the body II. The upperends of the jaws 29 and 3:! are connected by thelinks-34 to a pin-.35carried on the lowerend of the ram 19.

The forming jaws 2-9 and 35 are movedinto which projects to the rightside .of the'body ll through a vertical slot 39 (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8).The outer end of the pin 38 carries a roller 40 engaged in the angleshaped cam slot 41 formed in a feed cam 42. The feed cam is pivotallysupported on the right side of the body by the screw 43. The lowerend ofthe feed cam 52 is pivoted to the rearwardly extending feed arm id as at4.5. As is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, upward movement ofthe pin 38 with the ram 19 will result in the roller 40 moving in thecam slot 41 and causing the feed arm 44 to be moved rearwardly of themachine. The rear end of the feed arm 44 is connected to a feedjaw 46slidably mounted on the rail A? and provided with spring pressed feedpawls 48. Upon lowering motion of the ram and pin 38, the feed arm 44and jaw '46 will be drawn forwardly and the pawls 48 will feed apredetermined length of the wire stock through the shear block 25. Thelength of the stock fed into the body of the machine and acrossthemandrel 36 can be adjusted by positioning the stop screw 49 in the frontside of the body opposite the feed block as is most clearly illustratedin Fig. 16.

In order to advance'the severed blank of relatively straight stocktransversely to the forming jaws '29 and 30, We have provided atransverse feed shoe 50 shaving upstanding hooked fingers 5i positionedon each side of the mandrel'35. The feed shoe is springably retainedalong the bottom of the mandrel by a spring clip 52 and is pivotallyconnected at its outer end to a vertically'extending lever 53. The lever53 has a fixed pivotal connection to the body H as at 54 and is spring"biased to move inwardly or to the left toward the forming jaws by thecoil spring '55. The lower arm of the lever 53 extends along side of the:feed arm 44, and the arm 44 is provided with a bracket '56 embracingtheoutside of the lever "53 to form a cam slot 51, the edges of whichare operative'to move the lever 53 transversely as the feed arm 44 ismoved to the front or rear. As is most-clearly illustrated in Fig. 6,rearward motion of the'feed arm M will permit the lever 53 and feed shoe50 to move inwardly of the body under the influence of the spring 55 atthe end of the retracting motion of the arm 44, ram l9, and the formingand closing jaws as will be described.

As'thearm '44 is moved forwardly to advance a new blank of wire,thelever 53 is immediately drawn outwardly to reposition the hookedfingers 5| to receive the incoming stock.

The forming jaws 29 and 30 which descend and close with downwardmovement of the ram 19 will thusengage and bend each successive blankabout the mandrel 36. It will be noted that a small raised tooth 58onthetop of the mandrel prevents the unformed blank stock from being drawnrearwardly by the retracting hooked fingers 5|. On the next succeedingadvancing motion of the feed shoe 50, the inner or leading edges 51A ofthe hooked fingers 5i will engage and advance the formed clip along themandrel and into the closing jaws, as will now be described.

v The closing jaws are separated from the forming jaws 29 and why aplate59 which'closes the recessed side of the "body -I l.

The plate 59 has 54 connected to the lower end of the ram l9.

Thus the closing jaws are reciprocated upwardly and downwardlyconcurrently with the ram and the forming jaws. The closing jaws arenormally held with their lower ends in open position by means of theU-shaped spring 85 which presses inwardly on the links 63 to pivot theupper ends of the forming jaws about a spacer pin 66 (see Fig. 12).After the formed clip has been received in the open lower ends of theclosing jaws it is retained in place by reason of the concave shape ofthe jaws as is more particularly described in our before mentionedco-pending application. After the closing jaws have been advanceddownwardly below the bottom of the plate 59 and body .I I, the jaws arein a position to be closed, and .this motion is accomplished by a:closing plate 67 lapped upon the left or outer sides ofthe closing jawsand having an inwardly extending flange 68 along its front edgeengageable with the front edge of the front closingjaw. The closingplate 61 is pivotally supported by the bolt 69 on a cover plate 18, andthe rear closing jaw is restrained against displacement by a depend:

ing finger H on the bottom of the plate 59.

Closing motion of the plate 81 is accomplished by a pneumatic cylinder12 having a piston rod 13 which engages the bracket 74 secured totheupper end of the closing plate. The closing plate is returned to openposition by the coil spring 15. The mechanism for regulating the actionsof the clip forming and advancing cylinder l3 and the clip closingcylinder 12 consists generally of a lower valve 18 and an upper valve 11secured to the rear and front edges respectively of the body II. Thevalves have actuating pins 18 which project toward the ram I9 and are ina position to be alternately actuated by the double sided cam plate [8as the piston l6 reciprocates in the cylinder [3. A reversing valve 19secured to the top of the body reverses the supply of air top and bottomof cylinder 13.

The several communicating passages and valves for interconnecting andoperating the pneumatic system are most clearly understandable from aconsideration of the diagrammatic views in Figs. 19 and 20. It will beunderstood that the necessary passages and chambers corresponding to.the conduits shown conventionally in these figures areprovided in thebody of the machine I, but it is believed unnecessary to a completeunderstanding of our machine to point out in-detail 'where thesepassages are provided within the body H. The passages could take theform of external pipes or conduits connecting the several valves andcylinders if this was desired. Where the, several passages appear in thedrawings of the machine, they have been given reference numeralscorresponding to the numerals of the conventionally illustrated conduitsand pneumatic system, which will now be described.

The reversing valve 19 positioned-at the top of the body has anelongated valve chamber 88 into the center of which the air supplyconduit I8 continuallyopens. Opening to the chamber 88 on opposite'sidesof the conduit lll are a retracting conduit 8| and an advancing conduit82 which extend respectively to the bottom and top of the pneumaticcylinder 13. A double ended valve element 83 reciprocable in'the chamberalternately connects the supply conduit ID with the retracting andadvancing conduits Bl and 82. Piston faces-84 onthe ends of the valveelement 83 function to move the valve element under the influence of airpressure admitted to the ends of the chamber 88, as will be describedpresently, and vent passages 85 are positioned to vent the conduits 8|and 82 to the atmosphere whenever either of these conduits areinoperative.

. ,Air pressure is continually supplied from the conduit I8 and chamber89 through a control conduit 86 which extends downwardly to a triggervalve 81 positioned'in the handle I2 of the machine. A trigger 88 on thegrip is operative when depressed to open the conduit'86 to the conduit89. When the valveBT is closed, the conduit 89 is vented to theatmosphere through a port 98, in thehandle. The control conduit 86 alsohas. a branch passage 9| extending to the upper valve 11, the purposeofwhich will be described presently.

The conduit 89 opens to the lower valve 16, and when the piston rod 16and double sided cam I8 are in lowered position as shown in Fig. 19, thevalve element 92 of the lower valve will' be retracted by the cam in theposition illustrated'to permit the flow of air through the lower valveand conduit 93 to the clip closing'cylinder I2. The 'flow of compressedair into the cylinder 12 will build up a pressure in the cylindertending to move the piston 94 and piston rod 13 outwardly to close theclip forming jaws. A conduit 95 also opens to the face of the piston 94,but an adjustable pressure relief valve 96 positioned in the cylinder 12prevents the admission of air to the conduit 95 until the desiredoperating pressure has been built up in the cylinder 72 and the pistonrod 13 has moved to close the clip closing aws.

in the system after the trigger 88 has been ac-' tuated as shown in Fig.20, it will be noted that the predeterminedpressure in the cylinder 12willhave moved the jaw .closingplate 61 to 0105-- ing position, and thepressure within the cylinder 12 having been built up sufficiently toopen the valve 96, air will have been admitted to the left,

end of the reversing valve 19 to move the valve element 83 to the right.The supply of compressed air to the advancingconduit 82 is shut oiT, andair is admitted to the retracting conduit 8! and the bottom of thecylinder I3 to start up-' ward movement of the piston l5 andpiston rodIS. The first upward movement of the piston rod It will have moved thedouble sided cam l8 away from the tappet on the lower valve 92,permitting the spring 91 to move the lower valve to close oif theconduit 89 and vent the conduit 93;

and cylinder 12 to the atmosphere through the vent 98. -Due to the lostmotion connection between the piston rod l6 and ram l9, no verticalmovement will have been imparted to the closing.

' jaws 61 and 82 or the forming jaws-29 and 38,

and the closing plate 61 will have time to move to open position, thereturn spring 55 functioning to return both the closing plate and thepis-' ton 94, The piston l5 will continue its upward motion so that thepiston rod l6 picks up and their retracted position and will advance aclip Turning now to the conditions that will exist aerwcoe 7 blank:along theimandret to :underneaththe; formingrjaws. :Near thenpperilimitiof .-traveltoffthe piston rod l6,.thedoublessidedcamilliwillengage and depress the tappet :or xthe valveelement .99

in athe'zupper't'valve "H. The :upper valve Tl'ls biased-shy: the:spring 1 80 torclose' the oonduit 9 I fronizth'e conduit 101. inclosed'lposition, the valve :1! "vents the conduit I l ithroug-h 'the-vent m. :Qninward movement of thew'valve element, airipressurexfrom thebranch zconduit Sl isia'dmitted through the conduit IM to the right endof the :reversing valvefl. i'I'he valve element -BS is thus moved to thei-leftzto the "position shown in I-Fig. 19, cutting off the 1' supply ofcompressed air to the bottom: of l the'cylinder t 3 and stopping theupward movement tof the'piston andrani.

The downward movement'tot the pistonand' ram follows immediatelyand'iautomaticallyxsince the valve:element"83 automatically opens thereversing valve-19 to-thecon'duitM. The initial" downward-movement ofthe ram actuates thepin 38 and the eam link "42 to drive the feed arm 4Bin stock feeding motion and "to retract the shoe 50.

The system is thusentirely automatic upon actuation 'of the trigger' 88.andthe mechanism will continue to reciprocate and open and close theclosingjawsso' long as the trigger isihel'd 'depressed. The.rateatwhich'the system .will operate-may -be regulated by adjustmentofthe valve flt'wl'lich determines the 'pressure which mustbe built "upwithinthe cylinder 12 bfore the-reversing valve is'moved lto retractingposition. :A spring biased bleed valve l03ibuilt into the wallofthecylinder i2 andcommunicating with the conduit 95 is adjustable todetermine the rate'at which the'zpressure 'behind the left end of thevalve -'element 83 is ldissipate'd'and overcome by th'e pressure in theconduit 'ifll to shift the reversing "valve and start the down' strokeof the system. The resistance of bleed valve 1'03 also assures that:sufiicient pressure will be built up in conduit 5 95' to shift the-'valve element83 in the reversing valve: 19.

7 Having thus described our invention, --what we claim as new 1 anddesire to secure "by Letters Patentds:

1 Int-combination witha clip" forming and applying machine havingclipforming and clip closing-jaws and .aa recipro'cable ram connected toadvance said'jaws, a first pneumaticcylinder having'a piston rodconnected to reciprocate said ram andihaving a lost *motionconnectiontherewith, "a cam carriedloysaid piston rod, a

second pneumatic cylinder having "apiston positioned when extended 'to-act upon and-close said closingijawa upper and lower valves positionedinspace'd relationship along and adj acent to said piston rodand springbiased to pressure shut-off positionisaid valves having tappets'arranged to i be alternately :depressedby'said cam toopen -said valves,a -reversing valve having a source orair pressure opening thereto andhav'in'g :a pneumatically shiftable' val-ve elemena adva'ncingan'dretracting lconduits opening to said reversingvancing'positionwhenr'said upper valve is opened by i said: cam, *axse'cond:branch rcon'duit opening from .i-said trigger "valve '?to said lower"valve ':to supply vair -tliereto when said ltrigger valve :isopen;:a'aconduit:openingbetweensaid second'icylinder :andJsaid viewer"valve and communicating with? saiidesecond branch "conduitwhenvsaidlower valve 'is openedibyisaid cam, 'a second valveshiitin'g:conduit vlcoinmunicatingr between. said second cylinder and theopposite; end of xsai'dfireversing valvefirom'zsaidifirst shifting"conduit, andiantadjustable ssprin'g biased valve "in said :second valveshiftingcoonduit iop'posingi thelpassage-fof airirrom said secondcylinder tosaid reversingvalveinntil a :predetermine'dxpressurei isestablished ini said latter cylinder, said :second valve shiftingconduit havinganiadiustable bleed'valve opening there'- from ssaid upperand 'lowerrand reversing and trigger 1 valves having vent :ipassagesopening 1 to the outlet sides thereof 'when the shit table 'elementsthereof are impressureshut-ofi position.

2. In combination-with afclip' forming and-applyingmachinehavingclipformingand clip :closing jaws "and a reciprocable 'ram'connected to advance said jawspa fir'st pneumatic 'cylinder having apiston rodconencte'd to reciprocate said ram and having alostmotion-connectiontherewith, :a cam reciprocable with said -piston'ro'd, a second pneumatic cylinder having a piston positionedwhen-'extended to act upon and-close said iilosin'g jaws, ilrst andsecond valves vpositioned in spaced relationship along and a'diacent tosaid piston rod and spring biased to: pressure shut-off position, saidvalves having tappets: arranged-to :be alternately depressed by said icam to open said valves.- areversing valve :having a source oiair'pressure opening thereto and having-'a 'pneumatically shiftablevalve element, advaneing and detracting conduits opening to saidreversing: valve and alternatively connetable to saidsourcebysaid:reversing valve, said'conduits opening to "opposite ends ofsaid first cylinder, a control i conduit opening to said source andhaving a trigger valve therein a 'fir'stbranch-conduitcontinuously'opening from said control conduit to saidfirst valve, a first valve shifting conduit sextendi-ng from said firstvalve to said reversing valve and adapted to admit air to move said:reversing valve to ramadvancing position when isai'd first valve -isopened bysaid cam, --a secon'd branch conduit opening from said triggervalve to said second valve to'supply air thereto whenssaid=-triggervalve is open, a conduit opening-between: said second :cylinder and saidsecond valve and communicating with said second branch conduit'whensai'dsecond valve is opened by:said:cam,1a second valve shiftingconduit communicating between said second cylinder and-the oppositefiend of said reversing valve from Y said firstfshifting conduit,:andana'djustable valvein saidsecond valve shifting :co'n'duit opposing thepassage of' airzfrom' saidtsecond cylinder" to said reversing :valveuntil ea predetermined "pressure is establishediin said latter:cylinder, saidsecond valve 'shiftingrcondui-t havin'gazbleed valve'opening therefrom.

3. In combination-with :a clip I forming and applying machine havingclip forming :and clip closing jaws and-areciprocableram connected toadvance said ijaws, a :firs't pneumatic cylinder having apiston-rodconnected to reciprocate said ram, a cam 'reciprocable with'-said pistonrod, 2. second:pneumaticcylinder having a piston -po sitioned whenextended to' act upon and close -saidclosing;iaws, first-andsecondva-lves posimatically shiftable valve element, an advancingconduit opening to said first'cylinder and selectively connectable tosaid source by said reversing valve, a control conduit opening to saidsource and having a trigger valv therein, a first branch conduitcontinuously opening from said control conduit to said first valve, afirst valve shifting conduit extending'from said first valve to saidreversing valve andadapted to admit air to move conduit whensaid secondvalve is opened by said.

cam, a second valve shifting conduit communicating between said secondcylinder and the opposite end of said reversing valve from said firstshifting conduit, and an adjustable valve in said second valve shiftingconduit opposing the passage of air from said second cylinder'to saidreversing valve until a predetermined pressure is established in saidlatter cylinder, said second valve shifting conduit having a bleed valveopen ing therefrom.

4. In combination with a clip forming and applyingmachine having clipforming andclip closing jaws and a reciprocable ram connected to advancesaid jaws, a first pneumatic expansive de-,

vice having a rod connected to reciprocatesaidram and having a lostmotion connection therewith, a second pneumatic expansive deviceoperatively connected to andarranged when extended to close said closingjaws, first and second valves positioned in spaced relationship alongand adjacent to said rod and spring biased to pressure shut-offposition, said valves havingtappets arranged to be alternately depressedby a'portion of said rod to open said valves, a reversing valve having asource of air pressure openingthereto and having a pneumaticallyshiftable valve element, an advancing conduit opening to said firstdevice and alternately connected to said source and vented to theatmosphere by said reversing valve,

a control conduit opening to said source and having a trigger valvetherein, a first branch conduit continuously opening from said controlconduit to said first valve, a first valve shifting conduit extendingfrom said first valve to said reversing valve and adapted to admit airto move said reversing valve to ram advancing position when said firstvalve is opened by said rod, a second branch conduit opening from saidtrigger valve to said second valve to supply air thereto when saidtrigger valve is open, a conduit opening between said second device andsaid second valve and communicating with said second branch conduit whensaid second valve is opened by said rod, a second valve shifting conduitcommunicating between 5. In combination with a clip forming and applyingmachine having clip forming and clip closing jaws and a reciprocable ramconnected to ad- ,vance said jaws, a first pneumatic expansive devicehaving a rod connected to reciprocate said ram, a second pneumaticexpansive device operatively connected to and arranged when extended toclose said closing jaws, first and second valves positioned in spacedrelationship along and adjacent to said rodand spring biased to pressureshut-off position, said valves having tappets arranged to be alternatelydepressed by a portion of said rod to open said valves, a reversingvalve having a source of air pressure opening thereto and having apneumatically shiftable valve element, an advancing conduit opening tosaid first device and alternately connected to said source and vented tothe atmosphere by said reversing valve, a control conduit opening tosaid source and having a trigger valve therein, a first branch conduitcontinuously opening from said control conduit to said first valve, afirst valve shifting conduit extending from said first valve to saidreversing valve and adapted to admit air to move said reversing valve toram advancing position when said first valve is opened by said rod, asecond branch conduit opening from said trig"- ger valve to said secondvalve to supply air thereto" versing valve until a predeterminedpressure .is

established in said latter device. 6. Actuating mechanism for a clipforming and applying machine having reciprocably mounted formingjaws'and closing jaws, said mechanism comprising apneumatically operatedpiston having a rod connected to advance said jaws and havingalostmotion connection therewith, a source of air pressure, a conduitconnecting .said

source to said piston to advance said piston, a: valve in said conduitpneumatically movable. be-* tween open and closed position, amechanically operable valve spring biased to closed position andarranged .to be opened by engagement with-a portion of said rod onmovement of said piston to retracted, position, a second conduitcontrolled by said last valve and opening between saidsource and firstvalve to move sald first valve 'to. opened position, a secondpneumatically operated piston positioned to act upon and close saidclosingjaws when said jaws are in advanced position, a supply conduitopening said. source to said second piston, a-manually operative controlvalve in said supply conduit,- 2, second mechanically operated valvepo.--

sitioned in said supply conduit between said conetrol valve and saidsecond piston and spring biased to closed position, said secondmechanically op-- erated valve being positioned to be opened byengagement with a portion of said rodon move-,

ment of said first piston to advanced position, a fourth conduit openingbetween the pressure face of said 'second piston and the movable elementof said first valve in opposition to said second conduit to admit airfrom said second piston to move said first valveto closed position, aspring pressed valve in said fourth conduit opposing movement of airtherethrough until' a-predeter- 11 mined pressure is exerted on saidsecond piston, and .a spring closed outlet valve from said fourthconduit opposing escape of :pressure from said fourth conduit untilsuflicient pressure is built up therein to shift the movable .elementofsaid first valve.

7.. .Actuating mechanismfcr a clip forming and applying machine havingreciprocably mounted forming jaws and closing jaws, said mechanismcomprising a pneumatically operated piston havingacrod connected toadvance said jaws, asource of .air pressure, a conduit connecting saidsource to said piston to advance said piston, a valve .in said conduitpneumatically movable between open and closed position, a mechanicallyoperable valve spring biased to closed position and arranged to beopened by engagement with a portion of said rod movement of said pistonto retracted position, a second conduit controlled by said last valveand opening between said source and first valve to move said first valveto opened position, asecond pneumatically operated piston positioned toact upon and close said closing ,jaws when said jaws are in advancedposition, a supply conduit opening said source to said second piston,amanually operative control valve in said supp y conduit, a secondmechanicallv operated valve positioned in said supply conduit betweensaid control valve and said second piston and spring biased to closedposition, said second mechanically operated valve being positioned to beopened by engagement with a portion of said .rod on movement of saidfirst piston to advanced position, .a fourth conduit opening between thepressure face of said secondpiston and the movable element of said firstvalve in opposition to said second conduit to admit air from said secondpiston to move said first valve to closed position, and a spring pressedvalve in said fourth conduit opposing movement .of air therethroughuntil a predetermined pressure is exerted on said second piston.

'8. Actuating mechanism for a clip forming and applying machine havingreciprocably mounted forming jaws and closing jaws, said mechanismcomprising a fluid pressure operated device connected to translate said,jaws and having a (lost motion connection therewith, a source of fiuidpressure, a conduit connecting said source to said device to advancesaid jaws, a valve in said conduit movable :between open and closedposition, a mechanically operable valve biased to closed position andarranged t be opened by engagement with a movable portion of said deviceand movement of said device to retracted position, a second conduitcontrolled by said "last valve and opening between said source and saidfirst valve to move said first valve to opened position, a second fluidpressure operated device positioned to act upon and close said closingjaws when said jaws are in advanced position, a supply conduit openingbetween said source and said second device, a manually operative controlvalve in said supply conduit, a second mechanically operated valvepositioned in said supply conduit between said control valve and saidsecond device and biased to closed position, said second mechanicallyoperated valve being positioned to be opened by engagement with amovable portion of said device and movemom; of said first device toadvanced position, a fourth conduit opening between the pressure face ofsaid second device and the movable element of said first valve inopposition to said second conduit to admit fluidfrom said second deviceto move said first valve to closed position, a biased valve in saidfourthconduit opposing movement of .fiuid thcrethrough until apredetermined pressure is exerted on said second device, and a biasedoutlet :valve from said .fourth conduit opposing escape of pressure fromsaid fourth conduit until sufiicient pressure is built up therein toshift the movable element of said first valve.

9. Actuating mechanism for a gclipforming and applying machine havingreciprocably mounted forming jaws and closing jaws, said mechanismcomprising a fluid pressure operated device connected to translate saidjaws, a source of fluid pressure, a conduit cormacting said sourceto'said device to advance said jaws, a valve in said convalve .to movesaid first valve to opened position,

a second fluid pressure operated:devicepositioned to-act uponand-closesaid closing jaws when said jaws .are in advanced position, asupply conduit opening between said source and said second device, .amanually operative control valve in said supply conduit, asecondmechanically operated valve positioned in said-supply conduit-and biasedto closed position, said second mechanically operated valve beingpositioned tube-opened by engagement with a movable portion of saiddevice and movement of said first device to ,ad-

' vanced position, a fourth conduit opening bedevice connected to.translatesa'id jaws, a source of fluid pressure, a conduit connectingsaidsource to 'said device to retract said jaws, a valve in said conduitmovable between open and closed position, a mechanically operable valvebiased to 'closedposition and arranged to .be opened 'by engagement witha movable portion of said device and movement of said device toretracted posi- -tion, a second conduit controlled by said last valveand opening between said source and said first valve to move said firstvalve to closed position, a second fluid pressure operated .devicepositioned to act upon and close said closing jaws when said jaws are inadvanced position,

" a supply conduit opening between said source and said second device, amanually operative control valve in said supply conduit, a secondmechanically operated valve positioned .in said 4 supply conduit betweensaid control valve and said second device and biased to closedpositio11, said second mechanically operated valve being positioned to'be opened by engagement with a movable portion of said device andmovement of said first device to advanced position, a

"fourth conduit opening between the pressure face of said second deviceand the movable element of said first valve in opposition to said secondconduit to admit fluid from said second device to move said first valveto open position, a biased valve in said fourth conduit opposingmovement of fluid therethrough until a predetermined pressure is exertedon said second device, andv a biased outlet valve from said fourthconduit opposing escape of pressure from said fourth jconduit untilsufficient pressure is built up therein to shift the movable element ofsaid first valve.

11. Actuating mechanism for a clip forming and applying machine havingreciprocably mounted forming jaws and closing jaws, said mechanismcomprising a fluid pressure operated device connected to translate saidjaws, a source of fluid pressure, a conduit connecting said source tosaid device to retract said jaws, a valve in said conduit movablebetween open and closed position, a mechanically operable valve biasedto closed position and arranged to be opened by engagement with amovable portion of said device and movement of said device to retractedposition, a second conduit controlled by said last valve and openingbetween said source and said first valve to move said first valve toclosed position, a second fluid pressure operated device positioned toact upon and close said closing jaws when said jaws are in advancedposition, a supply conduit opening between said source and said seconddevice, a manually operative control valve in said supply conduit, asecond mechanically operated valve positioned in said supply conduit andbiased to closed position, said second mechanically operated valve beingpositioned to be opened by engagement with a movable portion of saiddevice and movement of said first device to advanced position, a fourthconduit opening between the pressure face of said second device and themovable element of said first valve in opposition to said second conduitto admit fluid from said second device to move said first valve to openposition, and a biased valve in said fourth conduit opposing movement offluid therethrough until a predetermined pressure is exerted on saidsecond device.

12. Actuating mechanism for a clip forming and applying machine havingreciprocably mounted forming jaws and closing jaws, said mechanismcomprising a first pneumatically extensible device connected toreciprocate said jaws, a second pneumatically extensible deviceoperatively associated with said closing jaws to close said closingjaws, a source of air pressure, a supply conduit having a manuallyoperated valve positioned therein and connecting said source with saidsecond device, a pneumatically shiftable valve connected between saidsource and said first deviceand operative in its opposite positions tooppositely actuate said first device, a first automatically operatedvalve arranged to admit air to said shiftable valve to move saidshiftable valve to jaw advancing position and positioned to be opened byengagement with a movable portion of said device and movement of saidfirst device to retracted position, a second automatically operatedvalve connected in series with said manually operated valve andpositioned to be opened by engagement with a movable portion of saiddevice and movement of said first device to advanced position, and aconduit having an adjustable minimum pressure control valve therein andcommunicating between said second device and the movable element of saidshiftable valve for admitting air to said shiftable valve to move saidshiftable valve to jaw retracting position.

13. Actuating mechanism for a clip forming and applying machine havingreciprocably mounted forming jaws and closing jaws, said mechanismcomprising a first penumatically extensible device connected toreciprocate said jaws, a second pneumatically extensible deviceoperatively associated with said closing jaws to close said closingjaws, a source of air pressure, a supply conduit having a manuallyoperated valve positioned therein and connecting said source with saidsecond device, a pneumatically shiftable valve connected between saidsource and said first device and operative in its opposite positions tooppositely actuate said first device,

a first automatically operated valve arranged ment of said first deviceto advanced position,

and a conduit having a minimum pressure control valve therein andcommunicating between said second device and the movable element of saidshiftable valve for admitting air to said shiftable valve to move saidshiftable valve to jaw retracting position.

14. Actuating mechanism for a clip forming and applying machine havingreciprocably mounted forming jaws and closing jaws, said mechanismcomprising a first fluid pressure ex-- tensible device connected toadvance said jaws, a second pneumatically extensible device operativelyassociated with said closing jaws to close said closing jaws, a sourceof fluid pressure, a

supply conduit having a manually operated valve positioned therein andconnecting said source with said second device, a pneumaticallyshiftablevalve connected between said source and said first device and operativein open position to actuate said first device, a first automaticallyoperated valve arranged to admit fluid to said shiftable valve to movesaid shiftable valve to jaw advancing open position and positioned to beopened by engagement with a movable portion of said device and movementof said first device to retracted position, a second automaticallyoperated valve connected in series with said manually operated valve andpositioned to be opened by engagement with a movable portion of saiddevice and movement of said first device to advanced position, and aconduit having an adjustable minimum pressure control valve therein andcommunicating between said second device and the movable element of saidshiftable valve with said second device, a pneumatically shiftable valveconnected between said source and said first device and operative inopen position to actuate said first device, an automaticallyoperae-rzoos:

1 3 ated valve arranged-to admit fluidi'to said shift.-

able valve to-niove said.shiftable valve toi jaw" advancina open"position 1 and positioned to Lbe" openedby engagement withamovablmportion of said device" and movement tot said 'first device 5toretracted position, and a conduit; having: a"

minimum pressure" control ivalve' therein and communicating ibetv'veensaid second device and the movable element of said shiftable valve foradmittingLflUid to sai'dhshiftablelvalve to move said .sh'iftabl'e valveto closed p'ositionzr.

16$. Actuatingime'ohanism fori'ai clip forming i ands: applying-t.machine having-i reciprocably mounted iformingi jaws and 'closing;jaws;'.said

mechanism comprisingi'a, first vfluid "pressure: ex-

tensllal'e devicel ccnnected' totretraot said jaws,

a second pneumatically extensible device oper-'ativ'ely;'associated'iwith:said'closing jaws to close said 'rcl'osing.jaws,.a.sour-ce oi'fiuid pressure, .a supply conduithavingi a. manuallyoperated valve positionedi'therein "and connecting said source:

With'said second device; a pneumatically shiftable valve connectedbetween said source and said first device-"andzoperative in. openposition to actuate saidiifirstrdevicepa first automatically operatedvalve-arranged to'zadm'it fiuid'lto said-shiftable valveztoimove saidshifta'ble valve to closed position and'ipositioned to be fopened byengagement with: a movableportion of said-device and movementofz-saidfirst device to'retracted'DOSition,

a second automatically operated valveconnected in series with saidmanually operative valve and positioned to be opened by engagement witha movable-portion of said device and movement of-said first-device toadvanced position, and a conduit havingianiadjust-able minimum pressurecontrol valve therein .and communicating be- I tween' saidsecond'deviceand the movableelementxof'xsaid shiftable valve foradmitting fluid to said; shiftablevalve to move said shiftable valvetoopen'position.

17; Actuating' mechanismfor a clip forming and applying machine having.reciprocably mounted forming. ijaws="and. closing. i'j aws,..said' I.meohanism 'comprising a first fluid pressurei'ex tensible deviceconnected. to retract said jaws,-

a? second. pneumatically extensible device op!- eratively :associatedwith .saidclosing ijaws' to close said closingjawaa source of fluidpressure," a supply. conduit having a' manuallyi'operated I valvepositioned therein and connectingrsaid sourcewith said second device, .apneumatically" shiftable valve connected between saidsource and saidfirst device and operative in openiposia tion-to actuate said firstdevice, anautomati'callyr operated valve'arrangedto admit fluidrto'said' shiftable valve to move said shiftablevalveio closed position andpositioned to be"openedi-by engagement with asmovable portion :of saididevice and movement ofsaid'first device to- .re:-' tracted position,and aconduit havingfa mini-i, mum pressure control valve thereinvandcome municati'n'g between said second device and-.the:

movable element of said shiftable valve for :adq:

mittingjfluid'to said shiftable valve to 'move' said shiftable valve'toopen position;

ANTHONY LENART. BERNARD HEILMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The followingrefe'rencesare ofrecord in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

